Do crowds make you anxious? What size crowd is too big?

Lauren Marsh — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 13:50:17 -0500

How do you cope with anxiety around large crowds? Many of the service members on PatientsLikeMe have discussed this topic. Join the discussion with other service members or vets on PatientsLikeMe, join today at http://www.patientslikeme.com/join/rallypoint (it’s free)!

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Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2017 1:52 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 13:52:24 -0500

Anything more than myself is considered a crowd...and I am not a fan of crowds at all!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2017 2:08 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 14:08:20 -0500

Let's put it this way. My wife learned that we need to do our grocery shopping early in the morning as the crowds at Wal-Mart can get big enough to where my anxiety and anger gets larger and larger. And as for county fairs.....those crowds are WAY too big for me. But, I tough it out as best I can for the sake of my wife and kids having a good time while we are there. To say nothing of the fact that my hand is never too far from the knives on my hip and in the pocket.

Response by SPC Joel Willman made Jan 24 at 2017 3:22 PM

SPC Joel Willman — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 15:22:44 -0500

I'm always ok with crowds, until someone starts shouting or starts pushing from behind, I than get really really jumpy.

Response by PO1 Michael Fullmer made Jan 24 at 2017 3:32 PM

PO1 Michael Fullmer — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 15:32:34 -0500

Never used to, but now much more than 10 or 12 and I start antsy.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2017 4:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 16:31:22 -0500

The size of the crowd doesn't seem to be the issue with me. I have issues with disorder and loud noises. I really hate to say it, but children crying, being loud, or misbehaving really sets off the anxiety issues.
It does seem to taper off slowly after getting back from downrange, but never goes away.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2017 5:06 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 17:06:11 -0500

after serving in Iraq with the CA patch on people poured out of no ware, hands out looking for money, it was overwhelming at times and definitely a security issue, crowds were large and we were small, so yes I have issues with crowds in and outdoors, it has carried over to my civi life, cant stand large crowds or close spaces

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2017 9:52 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 21:52:31 -0500

I do not like crowds. Except for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, I avoid crowds.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2017 11:00 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 23:00:18 -0500

Any thing larger than me makes me anxious. I need to know far enough in advance when my wife wants to go out so I can play it over in my mind to prepare for the "event". It is pure hell!

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Jan 25 at 2017 5:21 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 17:21:01 -0500

I surrendered to my anxiety and am now a hermit, I have two friends that help me.

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Jan 25 at 2017 10:07 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 22:07:09 -0500

Prior to the military, they didn't bother me. I didn't enjoy being around large numbers of people, but it didn't cause me any issues. While I was on mid-tour leave during my first deployment, though, I nearly had a nervous breakdown in Walmart because I couldn't keep an eye on everyone at once.

It took about six months after I returned for good from that deployment that I found myself relatively comfortable being out in public without "having" to keep an eye on everyone. I didn't like being in public for a long time, though, and only relatively recently have I become okay with it again.

I think a large part of that is a combination of time, and the fact that my current job is at a County fairgrounds where I am around large crowds on a semi-regular basis.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2017 10:08 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 22:08:04 -0500

Not well, thank God I worked on radio. lol